Incubator egg tray loader



v3 chicks.

It is the'object and effect of my invention suspension means.

Patented June. 2, 1931 UNITED STATES ATEN w s WILUAM rmmiv HILLIOT, 0 rae car wa Newman? INCUBATOR nee TRAY Lo nEa" Application filed March 24, 1928. Serial 110. 264,321.

My invention is particularly adapted for cooperation with incubator mechanism of the general character described and claimedin Letters Patent of the United States 1, 489,597

' I granted to me April 8, 1924: and 1,545,425 granted to me July 7, 1925, wherein the means for supporting eggs include a vertical series of trays each supported by detachable connection with a plurality of vertically ex- 1 tending endless chain belts; whereby each tray is pivotally supported so that may be tilted, to and from horizontal position, and inclined in either of two opposite directions to turn the eggs, with the object and effect 1 of preventing the embryos from sticking to the shells; and each tray may be progressed vertically during the incubating period, from the place of introduction of the fresh eggs to the place of discharge of the hatched to provide means for detachably engaging the flexible suspension connectors aforesaid, temporarily, and afford a support upon which 2 suitable egg trays may be slid between and into detachable engagement with said connectors; such loading means also affording a temporary support upon which a tray may be withdrawn-from engagement with said As hereinafter described, the tray'loa'der includes means affording three points of suspension, in triangular relation, in detachable engagement with three vertically extending T flexible connectors, which are conveniently reaches of endless chains; and includes a guide rail arranged to rectilinearly limit-the movement of a tray upon said loader, so as to precisely direct the tray to and from-its 1 proper position for engagement with the sus pension means. In the form of my invention hereinafter described, the suspender engaging means are hooks and extend parallel with the guide rail.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawings; Fig.' I is aplan view showing an incubator tray loader in full lines, with an egg tray, adaptedto cooperate there- .spect-ive View of a vertical series of egg with, indicated in dotted lines, 'Fig. II is a side elevation of the loader and tray indicated in Fig. I. Fig. III is a left hand end elevation of said loader and tray, as indi cated inFigaI and II. Fig. IVis a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the egg tray and'loader, taken on the line IV in Figs, I and II, in the direction of the arrow markedthereon. Fig. V is a fragmen tary sectional View similar to Fig. IV,.but 50 showing a modified form of guide rail and complementary engaging means on the tray. Fig. VI is a fragmentary, diagrammatic, pertrays supportedby threevertic al chainsrespectively, suspended from chain wheels on three rotary shafts, being 'partof incubator mechanismclaimed in my'oopending application-Serial No. 264,320 filed March 24:, 1928 for LettersPatent of the United'Statesf In sa-idfigures; thetray'lo-ader includes the guide rail 1, which may be conveniently formed of wood, having the straight channel 2i-extending from-end to end thereof, and having, at'its end, as shown at the right hand 7 in Figs. I and II,suspension*means to detachably engagein a link of the chain 4, as

indicated in Fig. II,:including the upwardly turned hook '5 formed on the end of the metal plate 6 which is rigidly connected with saidra1l.l, conveniently by the screws 7 The opposite end of said rail 1 is provided with the handle 9, conveniently formed of a strip ofmetal rigidly connected with'said rail by the screws 10. ,1 Said loader also has, at its 35 handle end, the metal cross bar 11 which may be rigidly connected with said rail 1 byany suitable means for instance, the bracket 12 which is seouredto'said rail by the screws 13.

Said: cross-bar has, ateach of itsopposite k ends, suspension means to detachably engage in respective links of chains 15 and '16, including upwardly'turne-d hooks 18 and 19.

Said loader is adapted'to thus afford, in temporary connection with said chainsl, 15 and 16,a' horizontal support, upon which egg trays 20 each comprising a rectangular frame having a downwardly extending guide stud 21% the rear end thereof, adapted to slide in the channel2 of the guiderail 1', may be" slid between, and to and from. engagement with, said chains. Each of said trays 20 has, at the rear end thereof, a pivot member 22 comprising a base plate 23 rigidly attached to the tray frame, conveniently by 7 screws 24'and having, in rigid relation therewith, a downwardly extending hook 25 adapted to detachably engagein a link of said chain 4. Each of said trays has, at its front end, oppositely counterpart pivot members 26 and 27, eachincluding a base flange 28 rigidly connected with the tray frame by screws 29 and having respective, downwardly extending, hooks 31 and 32. adapted to de-.-

tacha-bly fit in respective links of said chains 15 and 16, as indicated in Fig. VI. q

Said tray pivot members 25, 31 and 32 are hook shaped and downwardly turned to pref-vent accidental displacement thereof with 20 tion with the suspenders 4, 15 and '16 and be guided by the frame of the tray directly beneath it, into engagement with said suspenders. The hook members 5, 18 and 19 on the-loader are so proportioned and located as to readily engage the links of the suspene sion chains 4, 15 and 16 immediately beneath the links in which the pivot members'25, 31

and 32 on the trays are engaged; so'that rearward movement of the loader after such ini-' tial engagement serves tothrust it upwardly to slightly uplift the tray immediately above it, to facilitate the withdrawal of that tray by disengagement of its downwardly turned hook members 25, 31 and 32 aforesaid.

1 Therefore, itis to be understood that a loader being temporarily engaged with the suspensionchains 4,15 and 16, as indicated in Fig. II; a tray 20 may be slid thereon to the position shown in Figs. I and II; being rectilinearly guided by the engagement of its stud 21 in the straight channel 2 of'the loader guide rail 1 so that its rear end pivot mem- I b'er25 enters a link of-the chain 4 and its front pivot members 31 and 32 enter respective links of the suspension chains 15' and 16. Thereupon, said tray may be manually held against forward movement while forward movement'of the loader is effected, with the result of lowering the tray into such hooked engagement with said suspension chains that .it is not thereafter accidentally detachable. .However, replacement of the loader in the position shown in Fig- II, causes it to ride upwardly as its hook members 5, 18 and 19 engage theirrespective chains 4,15 and 16, to

again uplift said, tray from such hooked engagement so that it may be be readily withdrawn to the left in Fig. I.

notched plate 42 which is fixed upon the tray ment with said suspensionchains.

I prefer to space the vertical reaches of the suspension connectors 15 and 16 which are to be engaged by the loader and tray suspension members, at least as far apartas the width of the trays; so that the latter may be inserted and removed without flexing said suspension. connectors laterally. In the form of my invention shown, it may be observed, with reference to Figs. I and III, that the hook members 31 and 32 on the front ends of the trays, are in laterally spaced relation with the side walls of the trays so as to afford ample space for manipulation of the trays between the chains-15 and 16,

As indicated in Figs. IV and V; the trays trayframes. As indicated in Fig. IV, the stud 21 may be a nail or screw with a cylindrical head fitted to slide in the channel 2 of the guide rail 1. However, as indicated in Fig. V, the guide rail 40 may have a straight rib 41 thereon adapted to be engaged bythe 20 in lieu of'said guide stud 21.

Therefore, I do not desire to limit myself tothe precise details of construction and-arrangement herein set forth, as. it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential vfeatures of'my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

"I claim:

1. An incubator egg tray loader, 1ncluding suspension means affording respective points of suspension, in spaced .relation, adapted'to detachably fit in openings in respective flexible suspension connectors and means arrangedto "rectilinearly li1nitthe '105 movement of a tray upon said loader, including a guide rail; whereby said loader is adapted to temporarily support a tray while guiding-it to and from engagement with said suspension connectors. 7

2. A loader as in claim 1 wherein the guide rail forms a straight channel for guiding means on the tray engaged therewith.

'3. A loader as in claim 1; wherein the suspension means are hooks, extending in the same direction, and parallel'with the guide rail. V

4. An incubator egg tray'loader, including a" support carrying suspension means affordm ing-three 'points ofsuspension, in triangular relation; said points of suspensionbeing re-- spectively local to said suspension means;

said suspension means being respectively adapted to detachably fit in links of respec tive suspension chains, arranged to support such trays, in spaced relation, in a vertically extending series; whereby said 'loaderis adapted .to'aiford a temporary support upon which to slide egg trays to and from engage- 5. The combination with'a portable incubator egg tray loader, including a guide rail; of an egg tray with means arranged to detachably cooperate with said rail, adapted to temporarily support and guide said tray, to and from a selected position in an incubator; wherein the loader and tray have respective suspension means, fixed thereon, and adapted for contemporaneously engaging the same suspension connectors, but at different levels; whereby said loader is adapted to afford a temporary tray support upon said connectors, to facilitate the sliding movement of a tray to and fromengagementwith said connectors.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 22nd day of December, 1927.

VILLIAM FINNEY HILLPOT. 

